OOC: relocating to a new thread

---

The large gear door opens to reveal a large wooden loom, its skeletal frame draped with cobwebs, stands in the middle of this fifteen-foot-high octagonal room.  Three smaller spinning wheels surround it, also covered with cobweb sheets.  An iron coat rack stands next to one of them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:30, Mon 08 Jan 2018.

Marik look at the loom. He gathers that must be something used to create fabrics and textile for clothes. As he try to see where threads would start and end, he ponders for a moment about the advantages of having clothes created by hand or spells instead of a machine, before deciding machine-created clothes would probably lack the "personal touch" of ones created by magic and hand-crafting. It was the little details that made for the beauty of the craft. He doubt it could be possible to replicate these with a machine like that, though he has not idea how it function.


"Hm...Doesn't appear to be much here... I'll go check the balconies with Rani. Think a key could be hidden here, Omaron?"

As Marik enters the room the spinning wheels start to spin on their own, causing a loud clatter in the room.

Rani get startled and growls loudly as the clatter begin, baring her teeth before the machine.

"What in??" says the elf as he turn to Omaron. "Make...Make it stop!".

He draw his sword and shield, getting ready to fight...

Omaron chuckles at Marik's obvious discomfort as he follows after the mounted team. He cautiously approaches the automated machines, looking for any kind of controls on the loom and wheels. "Calm yourself, kitty," he says to Rani, with a smirk for Marik. "It's just old ghosts performing their final duties."


OOC:
Perception- 6
Investigation- 15

Filimena slides cautiously into the room after the dwarf and the elf, eyes flitting around in search of sources of danger

OOC: 07:00, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 10 using 1d20+3, rerolling ones ((7)).

Blah

"Ghosts..."

He know some things of ghosts. The forest is full of them and usually they are not agressive. Their laments and whispers can be heard on any given night in the woods as a relentless reminder of the violence and grief that born them. Some he recognize as mourning elves, others as fey creatures slain while their homes were invaded. Others souls, finally, are warped beyond any recognition. He never had to fight a ghost. Not that he would want to. He had always kept his distance from these apparitions and give them a wide berth as soon as he spotted one. There was no telling what a soul tortured by grief could do or how it would react to the living. Best not to risk it.

Marik lower his sword.

"I'll... Rani and me will go check the balconies. She doesn't like ghosts too much...I'll leave you to deal with them. Who knows...maybe they'll tell you where the children  are kept..." says Marik, not without some sarcasm, as he guide Rani out of the room and into the stairs.

As he looks over the spinning wheels, Omaron notes that they are operating as though invisible hands are working them. He is aware that Korim dwarves often use magics like this to make repetitive tasks easier and stream line their manufacturing.

Filimena's eyes focus momentarily on the machine, but then darts back out towards the elf and the big cat as they leave the room.

OOC: I take it there are no other doors in the room? If not, Filimena will follow Marik out, and perhaps check the balcony opposite to the one they're approaching.

Filimena sees nothing else of note in the room.

Omaron looks the machinery over for any sign of activation or deactivation runes.


OOC:
Investigation- 18

As Omaron searches for a shut off, he notices a slightly raised one-inch (2.5cm) square of rock, on the Eastern wall.

Back in the larger room, Marik heads up the spiral stairs. He sees a pile of robes and bones in the eastern corner among the dusty desks there.

I would like to go inspect the pile of robes, while approaching cautiously (Marik remember the pile of living clothes that tried to eat Jo'ren).


OOC:  Do I need to roll something?

Searching through the remains of what look to be dead dark creepers, Marik finds a pair of vials, one light red and one a translucent blue, a nice dagger, and a black pouch which seems to have some choice coins in side .

OOC: nah.

If possible, Marik would try to open the vial to sniff their content, see if he can recognize the smell of some medicinal or forest herbs he know about. He will also open the black pouch, check it's content.

OOC: May I attempt a check with Medecine or Nature to identify the vials content? Marik would roll a 17 on Medecine or 20 on Nature if that's the case.

While the other searched Raszire took the opportunity to lighten his load. Sitting Joren's unconscious form against a wall.

"Does any have any spare rope." Raszire began looking around for anything that may serve the purpose.

Finding nothing in the room, Filimena heads back out and, cautiously, climbs the second flight of spiral stairs, eyes flitting occasionally towards Marik on the opposite balcony.

OOC: Does she see anything up there?

23:54, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 15 using 1d20+3, rerolling ones with rolls of 12.  Perception.

Inside the pouch Marik see a handful of silver and a fair amount of copper (32 silver, 80 copper).

OOC: per the rules you can TASTE any potion and know what it is ... cause reason!?

Across the way, Filimena searches the dusty area only to locate another pile of dark creepers bodies. Searching their tattered robes she finds a trio of daggers, a small leather pouch (15 silver and 23 copper inside), and a metal rod, perhaps a foot (30cm) long, with a series of locks and keys etched along it's length and slightly pointed on one it.

[Private to GM: Wand of Secrets
Wand, uncommon

The wand has 3 charges. While holding it, you can use an action to expend 1 of its charges, and if a secret door or trap is within 30 feet of you, the wand pulses and points at the one nearest to you. The wand regains 1d3 expended charges daily at dawn.]

OOC: aw balls...Well, here we go.



Unable to identify the vials content by their smell, Marik soak the tip of his gloved finger in the vial and put a little drop on his tongue to taste it (if he can't identify it right away, he'll spit the liquid out and rinse his mouth with water immediately). He'll do that for each vials

The red vial is a potent healing potion (Potion of Greater Healing 4d4+4) and the transparent blue is a potion of invisibility.

"Hmm," Omaron mutters, approaching the upraised stone. Crouching over the conspicuous object, he clears his throat to get the attention of his companions.

Filimena trudges down the steps, leather pouch pinched between her right thumb and forefinger, examining the metal rod. "I found some coins," she says, approaching the dwarf, but looking down still at the rod in her hands. "And also, this."

OOC: Filimena keeps one of the daggers, for the sheer heck of it. Does the rod at all resemble the ones that have basically served as keys until now?

"Now THIS will definitely come in useful..." mutters the elf to himself. He put the potions in one of Rani's saddle bag. He study the dagger, hold the blade over his eyes to check it's edge, before putting it in his belt.

Filimena and Marik recognize what Omaron is indicating as a trigger for a secret door.

OOC: Filimena - Nope, the rod is something else entirely

Marik and Rani make their way back downstairs. The elf see Omaron inspecting the raised button on the wall.

"Secret passage..." he simply says to the dawrf. "The fortress is littered with them."

He turn to Filimena, who hold a rod in her hands. Does the rod look like one of Jzadirune keys?"

Jor'en stirs in Raszire's grasp.

"What in the nine hells..." he mutters with a heavy slur in his voice as he reaches to his head.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:46, Fri 19 Jan 2018.

"Oh hi," Filimena says, eyes darting briefly to the awakening human, then back to the elf. "I thought it did at first, but now it looks like something else entirely." She holds the item out for anyone to take a look.

OOC: =P

"Well look who's coming back to the living..." says the elf "I was beginning to think you would never wake up. "


OOC: Hahahaha! That little "oh hi" was just perfect XD
This message was last edited by the player at 01:17, Sat 20 Jan 2018.

Omaron turns at the sound of Jor'en's voice. "Welcome back to the living world," he says, smiling at the groggy human. "Ready to rejoin the action?" His question is clearly rhetorical as he pushes the trigger without waiting for an answer.

With a raise of her eyebrows, Filimena taps the rod twice against her left palm and slides it into a pocket to look at later, before turning to the human and giving him a polite nod.

"Very well. Behind you, Omaron."

He turns to Raszire.

"Raszire, the southern door appears to be a more traditional lock than those of the gears door. Could you go take a look, see if you could use your..."old talents" on it while we take a quick look behin that door? Maybe the human could help you once he shake off the poison..."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Mon 22 Jan 2018.

As Marik is talking to Raszire, Omaron opens the secret door to reveal a dusty corridor filled with cobwebs which goes some thirty feet before dead ending though there is branch half way down which heads north.

OOC: PC Map

Raszire nods "Very well." Then turning back to Joren "Rest easy, hopefully any side effects will wear off."

Moving over to the door Marik indicated Raszire checks it over before trying to open the lock.


12:37, Today: Raszire Toumash rolled 16 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 14.  Pick lock.
12:37, Today: Raszire Toumash rolled 8 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 5.  Perception cjeck for traps.

Raszire looks over the door, finding nothing noteworthy before going to work on the ancient dwarven lock. The dragonrborn is not overly surprised at the fine quality of the craft-person-ship of the lock as dwarves of Korim are renounced even in Zir for their clockwork pieces. Unfortunate the lock seems beyond Raszire as it will doesn't lock under his skilled hand.

Filimena peers into the dusty corridor from behind the elf and the dwarf, fiddling with the rod still in her pocket, listening for any sign of movement echoing through the darkness.

OOC: 23:28, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 22 using 1d20+3, rerolling ones with rolls of 19.  Perception.

Raszire returned to the group "I am afraid the lock is beyond my skills. Perhaps Joren can attempt it once he has cleared his head."

The hall and whatever is beyond lies in a eerie quiet. There are no prints or markings on the dust covered floor - only a handful of dead bugs and an ample cobwebs fill the space.

As Raszire returns, Marik respond.

"Let's hope we have better luck with that tunnel. It seems to be branching north, out of the settlement. We should see where it leads." He turns the head.  "After you, Dawi..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:39, Wed 24 Jan 2018.

"The dust of this passage doesn't seem to have been disturbed anytime recently," Omaron rumbles, turning to the locked door. "Unless your keen eyes spot something my own do not, I do not believe our quarry has come this way at all. We can explore these ruins in full when time is not so pressing. The children are more important, as much as it pains me to say."

"There is too much magic at work here for me to trust anything I can see. Besides, there isn't much left too explore in the settlement. I'll go check the passage with Rani if you want to try your luck with the door. If there's nothing there, we should be back shortly." says the elf, as he take the lead and make Rani walk toward the north tunnel, staying attentive for signs of movement. He whisper to Rani to make another try to locate the children scent.

OOC: Marik rolled 15 for Perception. Rani rolled 22 for Perception (smell).

The northward corridor, filled with cobwebs, ends in a large room, some twenty by thirty feet (6 x 9m), which appears equally as empty as the hall. Before Rani goes far down the hall, she stops cold and paws at the ground at her feet. [Private to Marik: You recognize the motion as something she's trained to do when a trap is on the ground.]

"Hm..." mutter Marik, as he takes a few second to study the room. He then signals Rani to turn around and head back to the group.


He joins them near the southern door in the hall where they found the Grell.

"There's a hall at the end of the [Language unknown: somtraeen]...Hum...the east? north. Blast common, I always mix those two....(he take a second to think) the north corridor. Empty... and trapped..."

OOC: Rani stopped about 5ft into the north turned hall - perception w/ disadvantage to look over the room at the end of the north hall.

OOC: Oh! Didn't know there was a room visible at the end! I'll change my previous post then



Marik take a few moment to stare at the other end of the hall. There seem to be something visible there. A room perhaps?

OOC: Marik rolled 13 for Perception

The room on the far side seems empty

OOC: Updated PC Map

Jor'en takes a moment to gather himself, before making his way to Raszire and the door. "I'll give it a try." He pulls a nice looking set of tools from a pouch and starts to give the lock a working over.

OOC: 09:52, Today: Jor'en rolled 19 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 13.  Thieves Tools.

Even Jor'en's skilled hands fail to open the dwarven lock.

Do you see anything? Filimena calls out to Marik telepathically. She is standing more or less behind him, but sees little in the dark. (OOC: I assume)

The elf tap on Rani's side and the panther crouch, letting him have a closer look of the floor. He hears Filimena question but doesn't answer just yet, taking some time to search for signs of the trap Rani's found. He look for glyph or unusual mechanism. Maybe if he can disarm it simply enough, he and Filimena might be able to go take a look to that room he see ahead. Sure, it looks empty, but it's also quite dark. Just a quick look to make sure and then back to the others. That is, if they can pass beyond this trapped floor.

As he look at the floor, he whisper to Filimena.

"There is a trap there, somewhere" he says, as he point to the floor and the walls. "See, if you can spot anything" . "Have the others already opened the door?"


OOC: I assume Filimena will help Marik looking for the trap? Would that be a investigation check with advantage?

OOC: If that's the case, Marik rolled 21 with advantage.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:21, Fri 26 Jan 2018.

Omaron watched Jor'en work quietly, examining the door as best he can without getting in the human's way. He looked over the door's construction, trying to discern any weak points or stress areas that may offer better leverage to force the door open.


OOC:
Investigation- 20

Between Filimena and Marik - the pair determine that there is a large pressure plate that run the length of the northern corridor and activating it will set the spears which arehiding in many many holes along the corridor walls

OOC: Spear trap!

---

Omaron's rather impressed with the doors construction as even some 70 years after this place was last occupied these doors still stand firm and have no signs of rust or deformation.

OOC :
Locked Iron Doors: Damage threshold 10, HP: 60, Break Strength DC 23
This message was last updated by the GM at 18:44, Fri 26 Jan 2018.

OOC: Small question before writing my next post. Are the spears hole going all the way to the floor level? Given Filimena small stature, could she reasonably passs below the spears level if she crouch or crawl?

Sorry can't change the text color on my phone
This message was last edited by the player at 20:50, Fri 26 Jan 2018.

OOC: yes the both walls from the floor to the ceiling have spear sized holes at a ~4 inch (10cm)  spacing

"Hmmm...I'd be curious to see what lies beyond to warrant such protection... Could we summon or throw something heavy in the middle of it to check if it's still active? " says Marik, as he look around. "Maybe we could throw one of the bodies from the pile we saw in the room where that tentacled beast attacked us...Let's go check on the others and see if they found something on the way back."

Omaron lets out a low whistle in admiration of the door's construction. "If you can't get it open, Jor'en," he says gruffly. "I suppose we could break it down. Unless someone has a pry bar of some kind." He chuckles, looking around for anything to use for leverage.

Filimena begins walking back out into the larger chamber to look for something heavy to activate the trap with. Times like this she wished she had something like a mage hand spell available, but she didn’t. Seeing the dwarf and the human puzzling over the door, she pauses and removes the mysterious rod from her pocket. ”Could this be something?” she asks. ”It’s not quite like the keys we’ve encountered before, but still.”

"I haven't seen anything looking like a rod-shape hole. Is it [Language unknown: adusur ereiveons]? Hum, sorry...is it...how can I say this?...Magic? Is there some magic in it? " respond the elf, looking at the rod as they make their way back to the larger chamber.


Marik lead them back to the large hall, where the Omaron, Raszire and Jo'ren are probably standing before the large iron door and discussing what to do with it.


"Any progress?" echoes the elf voice in the empty hall

Rummaging through his pack for a moment, Jor'en retrieves a well used crowbar, "I do indeed." He glances around the group before offering the pry bar to the bulky dragonborn, "Perhaps you'd be best to give it a try?"

"I don't know," Filimena replies. "But there are etchings of locks and keys on it, which one might presume ought to provide some indication of its function."

Description of the rod from above

Raszire nods to Joren as he takes the crowbar, "Very well let's see if this is effective." Finding an appropriate spot Raszire inserts the crowbar and and begins to exert his streength against the door.


OOC: 12:17, Today: Raszire Toumash rolled 22,21 using 1d20+3,1d20+3 with rolls of 19,18.  Strength check with advantage on door.

Raszire pushes against the door with Jor'en's crowbar, causing a horrible racket to echo through out the halls. The dragonborn manages to through break open the door, but the crowbar becomes rather mangled in the process.

OOC: Welcome to success at cost  :)

Beyond the massive door is a thirty by twenty room with four circular doors – each one bearing a different rune – lead from this dusty fifteen-foot-high room.

OOC: PC Map

[Private to GM:  A semicircular mosaic of engraved floor tiles fans out from an arching set of double doors set in the north wall.  Unlike the other portals, the northern doors are made of iron, embossed with gearlike patterns, and held to a stone doorframe by great iron hinges.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:20, Tue 30 Jan 2018.

"Oh, you didn't mention that before." respond the elf to Filimena. He thinks a bit. "Maybe we could..."

As he's about to respond to Filimena, Marik is cut by the horrible creaking sound that echoes through the halls as Raszire break open the door.

He look at the rod.

"Well, let's hope we didn't just have to tap the rod on the door to open it or something..." he says. "Come, let's make haste" he says last as he guide Rani toward the group.

Taking his crowbar back from Razzine, Jor'en shakes his head before putting it away again, "Now everything in the place knows we're here." The human looks at the room beyond the now open door, "Do we have keys to those doors?"

"Maybe..." says the elf, who makes Rani quickly take a few step forward to examine the runes on the four doors.

As he does so, he signals Rani to try to pick up the scent of children. Could they finally be in one of those four doors?

OOC: Rani rolled 18 for Perception (smell)

The big cat sniffs the area then sneezes before looking back at Marik indicating that she hasn't found the kids scent.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:10, Wed 31 Jan 2018.

OOC: forgot to update your map so here ya go

PC Map

[Language unknown: "Pre"] curse Marik, as he quickly guide Rani toward the N door and open it.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:46, Wed 31 Jan 2018.

Slightly miffed, Filimena frowns, mumbling, [Language unknown: "Anylarestlin"], and follows the elf and the big cat into the room.

Filimena is quite sassy. Haha.

Also, I just realised I never actually made any kind of roll to examine the rod. Is it worth doing an arcana or investigation check, or would this already have been covered by my asking whether the rod resembles the keys the party has been using, back in msg #23?

I'll just go ahead and roll anyway to save a bit of time. Just ignore if not applicable, although the investigation check was a natural 20 =P

22:51, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 9,20 using d20+2,d20, rerolling ones with rolls of 7,20.  Arcana; Investigation.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:54, Thu 01 Feb 2018.

Looking over the shaft of metal, Filimena notes that the locks and keys along the length have shifted slightly since she last look at it. She's fairly sure that there is something magic about it but without time and the proper spells she can't determine what exactly those magics are.

---

Marik finds himself in a twenty foot square'ish room with four decrepit cots, four small wooden chests, and a wooden dresser with four drawers. Everything is draped in cobwebs.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:08, Thu 01 Feb 2018.

As Filimena mutter, Marik ears appears to twitch and he turn, giving her a strange look for a second before turning back as Rani approach the door. He insert the runic key and the lock and open the door. The gear door open in a rumbling sound and let them see the interior.


"Not here.." mutter Marik, looking increasingly tense. It does seems however to be a room where the children were kept. As soon as he see the room empty, he signal Rani to go toward the Room with the E rune and take the key to open it. Better to see first if they can find already something in the room they can open. If not, well...they would at least be able to split their efforts and search a few room at the same time. That creaking noise was sure to have alerted anything in the vicinity to their presence. Marik think it won't be long before something come for them.


OOC: Would a passive perception of 15 allowed Marik to recognize a elven word mumbled by Filimena? You know, elven ears and stuff ;)...
This message was last edited by the player at 18:37, Fri 02 Feb 2018.

OOC: I'll allow it.

OOC: Small adjustement of my previous post then

Omaron growls in frustration as yet another room shows no sign of their quarry. "I'm beginning to think there are no children being hidden here," he mutters, walking to the door labeled 'I'. He places his ear against the door, trying to hear anything inside.


OOC:
Perception- 23

Omaron hears nothing of note beyond the gear door.

OOC: Assuming you mean the NW corner of the large room
Still quiet!
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:47, Mon 05 Feb 2018.

Annoyed at the absence of any evidence of the kidnapped children, Filimena returns to the larger chamber and begins looking around for something of sufficient weight to activate the trap in the corridor she had just examined with Marik.

Anything obvious around that Filimena can carry? Otherwise, she might consider hacking off part of the lobster they just killed and using that =P

Filimena doesn't find anything other than the dead beast that might work ... though she didn't see much down the corridor aside from alot of cobwebs.

As this happen, Marik open the E rune door.

At the same time, Omaron opens the door he stands in front of.

Marik and Omaron open their doors to see nearly identical twenty foot square'ish room with four decrepit cots, four small wooden chests, and a wooden dresser with four drawers. Everything is draped in cobwebs.

"We're wasting our time here" thinks Marik. "We've covered almost all the settlement and still no traces of them"

There remain that trapped corridor, leading out to a room in the dark. Given the design of the trap (if it was still fucntionnal), pretty much everything would be skewered upon entering the tunnel, be they friend or foe. It wouldn't make sense for the dwarves to create a room they wouldn't be able to enter themselves...Unless...Unless the point wasn't to enter but to keep something out. If that room indeed led out of the settlement, as he was increasingly convinced it was, it may have been a point of infiltration by these creature. Could the dwarves volontarily left a door open as bait and leave the creatures to slay themselves on the trap? Maybe he was overthinking this, but he doesn't see other explanations...

There wasn't any smell though, so it was dubious for the kidnappers to have passed this way.

Marik thinks...picturing the plan of the settlement in his head and remembering the last events...Their last clue was the hobgoblin trail leading north. At first, Marik thought that would mean the north end of the settlement, but could it have meant something else? Could that sole hobgoblin just be a distraction while the others moved the children elsewhere, like out of the settlement? The trail did go in direction of the stairs. Could they have chosen to flee in the snow of the frozen summit instead of going deeper into the mountain? That wouldn't make much sense. They were Underdark creatures, much more at home in the darkness than in the biting wind and light of the mountains...And they were bound to know there was a white dragon roaming around. Why would they chose to expose themselves to the light, the winds and a dragon against a band of adventurers? From what Marik saw, the Skulks and hobgoblins didn't looked to be especially terrified of them.

So much possibilities, so much ground to cover, so little time. Filimena appear to have darted back toward the trapped tunnel they saw earlier. Maybe she tought the same thing as him. Marik remembers the plan. If the pattern of secret doors continues, there should be one connecting this room to another adjacent with a E rune he could also open. That would give him quick access to check the stairs and check if the hobgoblins were still in the settlement by the scent.

Marik begin to look for a familiar raised stone "button" on the wall.


OOC:I don't exactly know if that would be a Perception check to spot the raised stone button on the wall, or a Investigation check to make sense of the secret door pattern and find said button. It didn't looked to be as particularly akin to detective work if I was just looking for the raised stone section so I rolled the two in case.

Marik rolled 24 for Perception and 4 for Investigation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:30, Thu 08 Feb 2018.

Marik scours the room but finds no signs of any secret doors.

OOC: S`ok I'm not sure currently if that would be perception or investigate either though I am leaning towards investigate ... regardless Marik is pretty sure there's nothing secret in the room.

Also the party does have a map of the Enclave because Keygan gave it to you. It is what we've been using as the PC Map - I was assuming y'all were marking up as you went like good adventurers do

OOC: Oh! I had forgotten about that! I just roleplayed it like Marik had a very good photographic memory.


"Hum...nothing. Surprising" thinks Marik. "I'll have to do the long turn to go verify and we'll be out of range of the others if trouble arise. Thinking of it...if they really went outside, they'll already have a good headstart by now. We'll have to track them by their tracks in the snow either way. Might as well stick with the group and cross another hypothesis with that trap." thinks Marik. He guides Rani out of the door and says to Omaron, Jo'ren and Raszire.

"There's nothing in those room...we're wasting our time here. Filimena and me found a corridor  going into the north face of the mountain. I'll go put some thought to rest and we'll join you shortly if there is nothing to it. I'll whistle otherwise..."

Immediately afterward, Marik signal Rani to run up the stairs in the great hall to grab one of the Skulk (I imagine those are skulks) corpse. I would like to accompagny Filimena afterward to the trapped corridor and make Rani throw the corpse on the pressure plate if possible.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:36, Thu 08 Feb 2018.

Filimena begins hacking away at the corpse of the Grell hoping to obtain a large enough chunk of it to throw on the trap.

What is this? A straight strength check?

14:36, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 15 using 1d20-1, rerolling ones with rolls of 16.  Hacking the Grell to bits strength check.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:37, Fri 09 Feb 2018.

"Well, that's the best lead we've got," Omaron says, turning and following the elf.

Raszire moves to assist Filimens, "Allow me." Raszire takes hold of the Grell and begins dragging it where needed.

Filimena pouts. I was fine doing it myself, thanks, she thinks. But no, the dragonborn is right. It’s probably quicker if he does it. Stepping back, she motions at the dead Grell as if to say, be my guest.

OOC: I realise belatedly that Raszire probably means to assist Filimena and not drag the Grell all by himself, but I guess it’s also in Filimena’s character to misunderstand, so I’m just going to leave it. Raszire can probably handle it, right? Big and strong. Haha.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:38, Mon 12 Feb 2018.

Alright to speed things up ...

---

Between the efforts of the group, the pit trap is sprung, Jor'en mentions the trap requires a certain amount of weight to activate probably to keep someone from running off with whatever had been in the room beyond. When the plate activates a series of spring loaded spears extend and retract from the walls at various heights, some sort of illusion magics kept the spear holes hidden.


The room beyond is empty ... nothing here save cobwebs and dust. No footprints anywhere save those the group brings with them.

PC Map

"Another dead-end" thinks Marik. He tries to find consolation that for once, things were exactly as they looked and no trickery was involved, but can't.

"We...We should check back the entry" says Marik, getting out the map and starting to draw for all to see. "There's a tunnel here that appear to lead that way, but it could also lead into another of those sleeping room. Hopefully one that was inhabited this time, if they took the effort of digging there..." He lift the head, listening for their reactions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:13, Tue 13 Feb 2018.

Jor'en chews on his lip for a moment as he looks over Marik's map, "So how many hobgoblins have you seen? Omaron and I encountered them near the entry."

" Only the three that took you. We killed two and the last one retreated north...I thought he would come here...the tracks pointed toward this room. I guided you to cut off his retreat...Maybe they really went outside.... I didn't thought they would risk it...The frost...The [Language unknown: illainsan]...it makes no sense. They have the advantage here. They know the settlement and the tunnels. Why risk being...eaten?"

Filimena curses under her breath and begins to pace back and forth, frustrated at their utter lack of progress. Where in all the planes of existence could those blasted children be? And what of Algabassadur? Her patron who never shut up, now utterly silent. Coming to an abrupt pause, she looks to the elf and the human. "The tunnel," she says. "Let's go." She marches off, motioning to the big cat with her head.

"Yes, let's proceed to this tunnel," Omaron rumbles, a small cough burring his voice. "Though we may need to take a rest soon. The spirits are very quiet, requiring me to focus my mind again."

Passing through familiar spaces, the group finds itself at a t-between two room.

To the west is a small room filled with broken stone and smaller debris from the tunnel.  A wooden lever juts from and iron plate set into the far west wall.

To the east you can make out half-made kegs, tables, bookshelves, and chests clutter the dark room.  Most of these unfinished works have been pushed against the outer walls, making room for four cots in the middle of the floor.  Two workbenches covered with carpenter’s tools flank the north exit.  A few rat bones litter the floor.

PC Map

FIlimena strides up to the lever in the room to the west and checks it for traps, perhaps not quite as carefully as she would if she were in a calmer mood. Finding nothing, she places her hand on the lever and looks to the rest of the party, tilting her head as if to say, so?

Rolled a 6 on perception of 3 on investigation, so doubt Filimena spotted any traps, unless they’re really obvious. I think she’s just going to pull the lever, so impatient is she at this point, unless anyone intervenes quickly.

As he see what appear to be another dead-end, Marik turn the head down on the map again and begin tracing a path with his finger to the attention of the others. He doesn't see Filimena going directly into the room and gesturing, focused as he is on the map.

"We need to go back to the entrance...this path should be the quickest."


OOC: Marik would probably intervene but I want to see the lever pulled :P

Pushing the lever, Filimena hears a distinct clicking sound from the other side of the western wall.

[Private to Filimena the Gentle: Echoing in your head comes "secrets _always ^another way _crafty ^dwarves"]


OOC: PC Map
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:42, Thu 15 Feb 2018.

"Well obviously. I could have told you that," Filimena says, rolling her eyes and seeming to glance up at a space just above her head. Then, realising she has spoken aloud, she clears her throat loudly, and looks back at the rest of the party, frowning. "Did you hear that click? We should head back to the room with the four doors."

Sassy Filimena is sassy.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:34, Fri 16 Feb 2018.

Expecting danger, Marik quickly look over the map as he hear the cliking sound. He see the halfling, her hands on a wall lever that was pulled.

Marik is about to object, what the hell was she thinking puling a unknown lever in a place so full of traps, but the words don't come. Instead, he stare a few second at Filimena, realizing the possible implication of that click.

"Hu..Yes...Yes. Let's go. Quick. " says the elf, signaling the panther to go forward. He take out his bow. Rani let out a small growl and advance quickly, sensing her master sudden change of mood from almost defeated to very curious.


OOC: Marik follow Filimena to the source of the clicking

Omaron chuckles as he follows the others to investigate the click.

Raszire simply shakes his head and follows along behind the others. They had been down hear in these abandoned rooms and halls for what had to be eight to ten hours and had found no trace of the children. Raszire was beginning to wonder if they were even here.

The group returns to the room surrounded by doors. It doesn't take the group long to find another one of those raised stone "buttons" which they've seen previously activate secret doors.

As the button is pushed, a door opens in the south end of the room revealing a dusty, cobweb-filled hall with a ten-foot-high ceiling and walls carved with frescoes depicting dour dwarves clad in chain shirts and helms, and brandishing hooked hammers. There are no obvious doors leading from the hall.

OOC: PC Map
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:18, Fri 16 Feb 2018.

As they enter the hall, Marik put his hand in front of Filimena and the other to signal to stop.

"Wouldn't be the time for sloppy mistakes..." he says, as he study the floor and the walls for a moment.


OOC: As we enter the hall, Marik would like to take a moment to study the floor and walls, see if something would suggest the presence of a trap (raised stones, holes in the fresco,larger than usual gap between floor tiles). 

OOC: Marik rolled 20 for a Perception check.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:15, Fri 16 Feb 2018.

As Marik and Rani step into the hall they feel the floor shift slightly before catching on something - tilt trap is what crosses the elf's mind.  Marik spies a pair of "buttons" on the walls of the corridor - one to the west about 10ft down and one at the far end.

OOC:PC Map updated

"There..." says Marik as he point the floor "[Language unknown: Astourvir]...hum...I don't know the word...it's a floor that can move and make you fall. And there are two of those raised stone giving access to secret doors...here and here. This one should give access to the entry."

He then mutter a few words in Elven for the panther. The large cat take one of her paws and push with slightly more force on the tilting section of the floor. Marik want to see how far it goes and if they could safely cross by passing besides the trap or jumping over it.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:46, Fri 16 Feb 2018.

Marik and the big kitty cross over the trap floor without issue.

"Omaron or Raszire, can you get this one?" says the elf, pointing the "button" in the middle of the room, "I will check the entrance". Marik push the far end button.

A door at the end of the hall swings open and Marik sees the room filled with Dwarf masks which is at the entry to Jzadirune.

OOC:PC Map

Omaron nods, following Marik's steps in order to avoid the trap the elf indicated. He moves to the other switch, using the butt of his axe to trigger it.

A door swings open revealing a series of bare, dusty shelves lining the north wall of this twenty-foot-square room. Freestanding weapon racks fill the southern half of the room, but most of the weapons have long since been removed. Three small steel shields and a suit of cobweb-choked half-plate armor hang from hooks along the south wall. Several more hooks remain bare. Below them rests a large wooden chest secured with a dusty padlock.

As they reach the entrance, Marik instruct Rani to try to pick the scent of the hobgoblin they were chasing earlier or the children. As she does this, Marik will look for signs one or more creature could have exit the settlement recently (if they are fresh tracks, traces of blood, a object that fell while the hobgobo was running,etc.)


OOC: Rani rolled 13 for Perception smell and Marik rolled 19 for Perception, if applicable.

Curious, Filimena first peeks into the room revealed by the dwarf pushing the button, but then follows Marik to the end of the hall.

OOC: Sorry. Been rather busy. Have to make a quick reply. Are the masks still emanating voices, as they had been when the party first entered the dungeon? Also, Marik rolled pretty well, but for what it's worth, I'll roll perception for Filimena too, looking around elsewhere in the room for any changes.

20:45, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 13 using 1d20+3, rerolling ones with rolls of 10.  Perception.

The sounds of soft giggling, chirping, and rustling still echo throughout the space.

Rani sniffs the area then heads to the southeast corner, then follows some scent to a section of wall at the first landing heading out of the enclave which has a smear of blood on it.

OOC:PC Map

"Humm....Clever." mutter Marik. "Made us think he was going outside and took a secret door back into the settlement."


He turns to Filimena.

"He is still in the settlement. We have a trail. Warn the others." he says, gently griping Rani fur to stop her from going further for now.


OOC: Would that smear of blood reasonably be the one Rani left when banging her head earlier or does it look like something else caused it?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:02, Mon 19 Feb 2018.

Rani starts pawing at the wall.

As Marik and Filimena moved toward the entrance, Omaron carefully approached the dust-covered chest. He glanced around the room, carefully watching for any indications of triggers for traps or other hidden dangers. Satisfied with the safety of the room, he looks for a way to open the chest.


OOC:
Investigation- 4   Sigh....

The chest has fairly simple looking padlock holding it shut.

Through out the room there are a trio of hooked hammers, two light picks, a heavy pick, a sit of half-plate and a trio of steel shields emblazoned with a symbol of a gear with a yellow, eight-pointed star in its hollow center.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:10, Wed 21 Feb 2018.

Omaron eyes the padlock for a moment, then grabs a hammer and one of the light picks. Placing the point of the pick against the lock, he proceeds to hammer at the lock.

OOC:
Str check- 9

Yep, that's with advantage.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:08, Wed 21 Feb 2018.

OOC: Roll Strength with Advantage

Marik know there is a secret door there, from the notes inscribed by Omaron and Jo'ren. He just doesn't exactly know ho to open it. He remembers Raszire toying with a sconce, turning it to the left and trigerring a trap. He inspect the wall and the sconce, without touching them, trying to ascertain the mechanism. He check if there a hints of how the hobgoblins opened it, like if there are traces of a bloody hand of the wall or a smear indicating which side of the sconce was pushed harder than the other.


OOC: Marik rolled 11 for in investigation if that's applicable.

Jor'en watches Omaron fail at brute forcing the lock before saying "May I?" he holds out his lockpicks.

OOC: Thieves tools
13:15, Today: Jor'en rolled 14 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 8.  Thieves Tools.

Both Jor'en and Omaron have issues getting into the chest. Though Omaron hears something waddle in the lid of the chest after his attempt to open it.

”What are you looking for?” FIlimena asks the elf, approaching as she sees him inspecting the sconce, and joining him.

OOC: Maybe Filimena’s perspective from lower down allows her to spot something Marik doesn’t? =P

I’m guessing this gives Marik advantage on his roll, but I’m just going to roll investigation anyway in the interests of time just in case.

08:28, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 4 using 1d20, rerolling ones with rolls of 4.  Investigation.

Yes, hopefully it gives Marik advantage. Haha

Standing not far behind Omaron and Joren, Raszire had quietly watched their progress. "If you wish I can attempt to break the lock or pick it. Though my skill are small compared to Jorens."

"This wall...Do you remember when we first entered the settlement?...when Raszire touched this and...[Language unknown: thoioumensom]...made us fall? There a secret door here...Jo'ren and Omaron drew it on the map. There should be a way to open it...I think it's linked to this." he says as he continue to peer over the sconce, making quick glances toward Filimena from time to time.

He pause.

"I heard...I thought I heard..." he turns a bit. [Language unknown: "Iomant evnd ssmo ngwari wa eencomdin om peilwh?"] he ask, with a quickness and flow of speech that clash quite a bit with the much slower and labored pronunciation he use with Common. He still look a bit uneasy with having Filimena so close, but also strangely hopeful as he says that.


OOC: :/ I don't exactly remembers where it was written in the forum, but the "help" mechanic was that you use your action to give someone else advantage on his roll. You don't have to roll anything yourself.

I know you rolled a investigation check anyway in the interest of time, but I would feel bad to roll with advantage anyway now that we know the poor result of that dice. I don't think the DM would allow it either. I'll go with my eleven and we'll know it for next time :)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:24, Thu 22 Feb 2018.

Jor'en seems less than thrilled at his inability to open the lock. "Dwarfs make tough locks here. Perhaps a bit of brute force is the way?"

OOC: I'll allow Marik to reroll this once ;)

With picks in hand Raszire first attempts to pick the padlock, should that prove useless he will borrow Omaron's tools and proceed to attempt to break the lock.


13:57, Today: Raszire Toumash rolled 18 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 16.  Pick Lock.

13:58, Today: Raszire Toumash rolled 9,16 using 1d20+3,1d20+3 with rolls of 6,13.  Strength check w/ advantage.

As he talks, Marik continue to eye the sconce and surrounding, trying to look where Filimena is looking. He feel he's already seen all there is to it. Maybe by turning the sconce to the right instead of the left?


OOC: The Dice roller is less magnanimous than our DM. Marik rolled a 9.

Omaron grins, hefting the hammer and pick again. He places the point against the lock and begins pounding away, once again.


OOC:
Str- 20

The chest cracks open revealing an assortment of items inside

• crossbow bolt case
• a pair of small sticks which have some sort of black coating on them [Private to GM: smoke stick]
• a small sparkling stone [Private to GM: thunder stone]
• a bag which has a bit of resin and tar on the outside [Private to GM: Tanglefoot bag]
• a long shard of red crystal with dwarf runes etched into it  [Private to GM: wand of Burning Hands]

This message was last edited by the GM at 04:38, Fri 23 Feb 2018.

Turning the sconce to the right opens a well hidden a door revealing a 10 foot by 20 foot room, just like it was indicated previously.

OOC:PC Map

Filimena shuffles her feet slightly, annoyed at herself for letting that bit of elven slip, and now having to answer questions. Not that she had any reason to hide it. Not that there was anything wrong with it. [Language unknown: "Vorna? Ourpremen ngilntad evivsa setinerat? Tedus o onsardore ntien allndestinde overatonerea?"] she replies, not looking up at the elf, and not bothering to hide her disingenuousness.

Filimena is relieved when a section of wall opens, revealing a room on the other side, and interrupting whatever conversation might have been about to begin. Peering in, she looks for signs of recent activity that might indicate, for example, a hobgoblin, or some small children passing through.

OOC: 16:25, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 20 using 1d20+3, rerolling ones with rolls of 17.  Perception.

Yeah... Been a bit occupied recently, which is why I haven't replied. Hopefully next week is better. Also, I'm sliiightly confused.
 Where exactly are we on the map? This room.

Marik remains silent, confused and not quite knowing what to respond. What a strange answer... Fitting for so strange a person, he think. Then again, he's the one who spent years alone in the woods. Maybe it's just a urban thing or a social norm going on in cities like Haldrim or Cardus? A sort of game people play with each other to confuse and leave them guessing...It wouldn't be the first or the last he heard of. He remembers liking games of wit to a certain degree with other elves, but in his view. urban dwellers had elevated it to a new form of art. Conversation there was like a constant joust...and made him feel even more of a stranger.

After a few seconds of thinking , Marik decide it must be some kind of dry joke. Better to just grin and move on. Focusing his attention of the task at hand, he task Rani to continue to follow the trail. He turns the head to see if the others are following them.


[Language unknown: "Atard ith utat blemenica? En lediinpa al ith chec e ameasttio ad iourutard nte."] He turns to Filimena " [Language unknown: Ill ng wiev and p ithtratin ck pama cafiun anai stter elelic is ticme omund siunll ri masachmend hou son sontheughcom it ughamewer?"]

The elf is still speaking to her in elven. Filimena raises an eyebrow. But of course, fair enough. If she were to bump into another halfling... But no. The thought reminds her too much of Finneas, and how she ought to be looking for him now, instead of crawling around in this abandoned city.

“[Language unknown: Fi mo a ionnd serut ente sta ureday'eaured si ce, etarsslediai,]” she replies. “[Language unknown: Ti’no thta ioer us wasela larng ortev ieta’e atemenvir hasno.]”

Filimena turns around and heads back towards the hall she last saw the dragonborn and the dwarf in. Hey. What’s happening? We’re ready to move on, she calls to them telepathically once she sees them.

[Language unknown: "To ivno pl tic ingithnte ic washe bewhieme"] he respond. [Language unknown: "Ers ivrepa" ] he add, in a much slower, deeper tone, a bit like a soft rumbling and end his sentence with something sounding like a wood plank creaking. He then turn his attention away, a slight grin of satisfaction on his face.


OOC: Can Marik figure out which way the scent trail is going?

The blood continues through the secret hall to a currently open door at the far end, which was mentioned by Jor'en and Omaron previously.

OOC: Filimina and Marik are right by the secret door at one of the incoming landings.

PC Map updated


Subarea map for Filimina and Marik

As the halfling's voice flowed into his head, Omaron looked around sharply. Not seeing Filimena, he shakes his head, and concentrates very hard on replying. Found some old supplies. Will follow soon. He begins shoving the chest's contents into his backpack, intent on rejoining their comrades swiftly.

Marik and Rani follow the blood trail, intent on scouting a bit ahead. Guiding Rani into the secret passage, they soon see the large pit trap ahead, and the trail continuing past forth. Marik signal Rani to advance and reach the next room. The blood trail should be easy enough for the others to follow behind him.


OOC: If possible, Rani will cross the pit trap by walking on the side. Otherwise, Marik will instruct her to simply jump over. 10 feet shouldn't be too much of a problem for her given her size. 

Marik and Rani have no trouble entering the room beyond the hall. There they find a trio of dead hobgoblins - one of which is rather freshly dead. Taking a moment to look about, Marik notes the floor of this octagonal room is actually a large wooden platform supported by taut iron chains looped over eight enormous pulleys bolted to the fifteen-foot-high ceiling.  One end of each chain is fastened to a corner of the platform, while the other end drops through a hole in the platform, connected to something far below.  Set into the northeast wall is an iron panel with an iron lever jutting from it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:05, Wed 28 Feb 2018.

Well don’t take too long, Filimena says to the dwarf, and heads begins heading back towards the elf Marik.

Quick post before I start work. Might post again tonight.

As he enter the room, Marik take a quick look at the ceiling and the wall to ensure no enemies lies in wait for them and make Rani advance on the platform. He shudder a bit as he hears the creaking of the old wood under the weight of the panther, but it passes as they advance on the platform. Rani goes to sniff the corpses. One appear fresh. Could their quarry ran out of blood before reaching it's destination?


OOC: Does it look like the same hobgoblin we were chasing?


He hears  footstep coming behind him and turn. Filimena is back. He point to her the lever and the dark depths below.

[Language unknown: N somthuove stet ngpro forthaine. Ckund oeratileshisrea haseauventhuvir fomi are is ingersone ove m ersonsres. A vir plear la illhounde, cesi tedoutvorone ncroad t aretineen...] he instruct Rani to sniff the air again, to catch maybe a climpse of the children scent. He point to the lever [Language unknown: "Ntul e laer eilidi er ec? Me la hatresred ec onsratithhat icaha hatat niurck ul es hismenivesan ur entthoder a? O reaiouone sienaialwh nte an inwh hisoultio thader-anyameven"]

OOC: Rani rolled 17 for Perception smell.

Raszire hangs back with Omaron as he packs up the items in the chest. Then when ready proceeds to make his way back to the others.

When they reach the platform he eyes it critically, "Hope this thing is still sturdy enough." He then drags the hobgoblin bodies back into the tunnel where he checks them for any useful clues or items of use.

"[Language unknown: Enosng strev leswheson sellck en ad andi whales, ic u aifi omeun]," Filimena replies. Then, seeing the dragonborn cleric approach, she switches to common. "I wonder how they died."

OOC: 23:39, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 7 using 1d20+3, rerolling ones with rolls of 4.  Medicine check.

Poor, but maybe it's something really obvious, like there are arrows literally sticking from their skulls.

Looking over the bodies Raszire finds each wearing a suit of chainmail plus a shield, a longsword, and a longbow with a quiver of arrows. The fresher one additionally has a belt pouch with 5sp and 30gp inside.

"We killed them."

Jor'en says in a matter of fact manner to Filimena.

"There is a door over there, where one came out of. I looked it over quickly before we went to find you lot."

"These were the first we encountered," Omaron says, indicating two of the hobgoblin corpses. "The armor smells a little funny, but is serviceable enough. Perhaps this elevator will prove the same." He begins looking over the lever.


OOC:
Investigation- 13/14  In case I get get advantage to figure out the lever mechanism.

Marik turn to Omaron, looking confused "The...elevator? What is that? We need to find a way to get in the depths below. I think that's were our quarry is." 
This message was last edited by the player at 19:22, Wed 28 Feb 2018.

Omaron is confident that the lever will lower the platform the group is standing on but is not sure how quiet that lowering will be.

Placing the pouch on his belt Raszire joins the others on the platform "Unless someone has need of the equipment they carry I ques it is time to see if this machinery still functions."

Omaron grinned at the elf, then gestured to the wooden platform. "This be a wonder of engineering," he says. "Ought to get us down to the bottom of this shaft, though it won't be too quiet. When we're ready to investigate, well, we just pull this lever here and the platform will descend to a lower level."

Looking at the lever, then the platform, Marik doesn't look quite as enthusiast as Omaron about the "elevator" or dwarven "engineering". Still, Omaron appear to know quite a bit about the Korim and their devices. And Marik can't lie that he'd be curious to see this device in action...


"Then...I'd say the time is now. I don't know if we're already too late, but we'll need to make hast if we're to save anyone."

Filimena steps gingerly onto the platform. Satisfied it’s not going to collapse under her weight, she tiptoes up to the hole at its centre and peers into the darkness below, wondering what manner of evil and malice lies waiting.

Filimena doesn’t have dark vision so I don’t expects she sees anything, unless there’s any source of light below. Going to roll perception anyway to see if she detects anything anyway? Could be a sound even if she can’t see.

08:26, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 12 using 1d20+3, rerolling ones with rolls of 9.  Perception .

No light source can be seen below - the depth of the shaft seems infinate without light to tell you different.

[Private to Filimena the Gentle:
In your head echoes

The locks ^are _key to finding them
_{Look beyond} the curtain, ^{below the gate,}
Beware the doors with teeth.
_Descend into the _{malachite 'hold,}
Where precious life is bought with gold.
_{Half a} ^{dwarf binds them,} but no for long ]

OOC: anyone going to push the button/pull the lever/ring the bed?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:31, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

OOC: I was assuming Omaron or Raszire would do it in the last few days, since I doubt Marik would touch this. Maybe we can assume one of them did and go on?   

As everyone steps onto the platform, Omaron pulls the lever.

The lever moves with a much smoother action than Omaron expected for something that should have been abandoned seventy years ago. Slowly the platform descends taking you towards whatever lies below Jzadirune.

OOC: Alright that wraps up this part (yay!) - everyone please level up to 4th before we move on.

OOC: Oh oh oh! But first...

As the platform begins to descend, Filimena staggers back slightly from the hole at its centre, albeit not so much from the movement itself, and hisses in irritation. Trust the voices to return now. It was on purpose, clearly, after she’d just complained they’d been absent. But what can they have meant? She’s heard the poem before. Why repeat it? Filimena ponders this as the platform sinks slowly int the darkness.